March Shrub of the Month-Hino Crimson Azalea
Oh, how St. Louis gardeners LOVE azaleas! We see those colorful photos in magazines and declare how wonderful our gardens will be next spring, full of colorful azaleas the size of a minivan. Then we buy a few, and the harsh slap of garden reality hits us right across the face. Azaleas LOVE the South and the Pacific Northwest. Azaleas HATE St. Louis.
There are a FEW azalea choices that will ‘tolerate’ St. Louis. They won’t impress your snobby brother-in-law from Seattle or your Aunt Grace in Charleston, but they will look decent and give you color IF you are willing to put some work into it. Rhododendron Hino-Crimson’ is one to try in St. Louis.
The Hino Crimson cultivar (Kurume hybrid) is widely planted in Missouri Botanical Garden’s Japanese Garden, Seiwa-en. Its rich ruby-red flowers are practically blinding against a green background. The foliage is a finer texture than other azaleas, and it gets a decent fall/winter color to it. Azaleas in St. Louis benefit from some shade, especially in the late afternoon. Dry shade is not welcomed, but rich, super organic, yet well-drained soil is. Keeping your PH more acidic can play a significant role in your success. A good fertilizer will help with this and keep the foliage green. (Remember the rule never to fertilize them after the 4th of July) The average size is 3-5′ high and wide in St. Louis.
What I love about this plant-Who doesn’t love an azalea in full bloom? So bright and cheery in spring! It’s a great companion to our native dogwoods. It’s evergreen with a fine texture and a bronzy winter color. It does well in St. Louis compared to other azaleas.
What’s not so great-Most azaleas struggle in St. Louis. PERIOD. Lots of love and work in the form of fertilizing, soil prep, maintenance, and proper placement. NOT drought-hardy-make sure you keep them watered.
Words and photos by Jo Batzer
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